Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-08-05

Although II IS only Two seasons since the
state reservation was established at Mag
ara Falls the aspect Of the river bank bor
dering ON the rapids and the cataract has
been so greatly improved that, were the
work of restoration TO proceed no further,
lovers of nature would feel that they al
ready had sufficient cause for gratitude to
the Empire state. Standing at almost any
point along the line of the reservation one
has a clear, uninterrupted view of the riv-
er bank. The number of new vistas open
ed by the removal of the bazaars, pavil-
ions the mill, and other unsightly struc-
lures along the margin, has had the effect
of giving to the place an unfamiliar look,
even to those best acquainted with it. The
change is chiefly apparent of course, at
Prospect park wherein the inventive gen
ius of a money-making management had
wrought most cruel work. For 10 years
thousands of people have passed and re
passed up and down the upper walk lead
ing to the ferry house in Prospect park, the
view of the falls cut off by the bazaar build
ing in front Of the ferry-house, through
which those going from the ferry-house
were obliged to pass in order to reach the
parapet on the brink, or, as it is Dlore prop
erly called, the Point" This building
was lately removed to disclose a view of
the falls unsurpassed on the American
bank and only excelled in beauty by the
comprehensive view of the entire face of
the cataract obtainable from the Ontario
reservation near the Clifton House. This
walk in Prospect park is now one of the
most frequented on the reservation.
The natural beauties of Prospect park
are also revealed for the first time since the
| place became picnic ground and as they
could not be while its entire area was occu-
| pied by an intricate lighting apparatus,
| gaudy pavilions, an art gallery, and
| fountain that spouted colored water. A
series of natural terraces made by the re-
| cession of the river which once flowed over
this entire area are now strikingly noticea-
| BILE in the beautiful undulating surface of
the park, and serve to mark the distinction
between the Upper and Lower Groves, by
which Prospect park will hereafter be
known. The inclined railway, which has
run nearly 80 years without an accident,
has lately been provided with safety ca
BILE as an additional precaution against dan
ger. When put in place n few weeks ago
the cable was tested, the car being loaded
with sand bags containing a total weight of
25O0 pounds. The coupling of the large
MANILA cable was then loosened and tied
with lashings to the car. At given sig
nal the lashings were cut, and the car ran
only two feet when it came to a dead stop.
The excursion which could formerly be
made under the falls with Conroy, the fa-
nous guide, from the point known as the
Shadow of the Rock, has lately been for
hidden as unsafe, and the Shadow of the
Rock pavilion will be pulled down. Switz-
erland is not the only country where there
are landslides Near the landing where one
embarks on the Maid of the Mist is the
wreck of a row-boat. This bit of wreck,
half hidden under the sand and rock which
fell from the overhanging precipice a few
months ago and smashed in its sides, is all
that remains of the craft in which Webb
was taken to the point whence he started
to swim through the whirlpool rapids The
boatman who rowed him is hale and hearty.
He now sells the tickets for the ride down
the inclined railway.
a notable fact is that, while traffic is
forbidden on the reservation, and all the
shops, soda-water pavilions and bazaars
have been torn down, an exception is made
in favor of the Indian women. 1t is felt
that the presence of representatives of the
race that once inhabited the country bor-
dering the river enhances rather than de-
tracts from the scene, and they are accord
ingly allowed to sell their bead work. These
women come from the Tuscarora reserva-
ton, seven miles from Niagara Fails They
are of the Bear clan of the Tuscaroras
which recently raised up new sachem in
the person of Thomas Williams.
The result, as so far shown, of the estab
lishment of the reservation has been de
cided increase in the number of visitors
and longer stays on the part of those who
come. Formerly those who arrived on ex
cursion trains made Prospect park their
headquarters nearly all day long many
went nowhere else Now the super
intendent says that within Is minutes af
ter the arrival of train the tourists have
scattered to all parts of the reservation
Another result of doing away with fees
and the toll system has been to make pc
destrianism about the falls fashionable
Those who will walk to the upper end OF
the reservation, along a path skirted by
hawthorn bushes and shaded to a great ex
tent by a natural fringe of walnut trees
will be rewarded by view of the upper
river which few Buffalonians have taken
the trouble to see, but which Francis Ker
nan compared to the Bay of Naples. Here
near the head of the reservation, is the Ole
French landing, where Father Hennepir
and La Sale are said to have embarked
after the portage of their canoe from th'
present site of Lewiston.